Many believed that the Platform process would be a means of unifying the Clinton and Sanders campaigns by incorporating key Sanders proposals. The drafting committee was anything but: single-payer was one of dozens of amendments put forward by Committee members appointed by Bernie Sanders, only to be shot down by appointees of Hillary Clinton and Debbie Wasserman-Shultz. The committee also voted against supporting a federal $15 minimum wage, opposition to fracking, and even opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which both Clinton and Sanders agree on.

Friday's meeting was just the first step in the process, and the Platform draft can receive further amendments from the full Platform Committee 2 weeks from now, which consists of delegates from around the country. Finally, the Platform can be amended on the Convention floor before being adopted by the full party.

With a coalition of national allies and mounting grassroots pressure, we will drag the Democratic Party kicking and screaming into a commitment on healthcare justice!

Benjamin Day Executive Director Healthcare-NOW!

Healthcare-NOW! is a grassroots organization that fights to end the health insurance crisis by educating and advocating for improved Medicare-for-all legislation, such as HR 676. You can unsubscribe from Healthcare-NOW!'s email list here.